وأهوال الآخرة وسائر أمورهما وتقصير النفس
the horrors of the Hereafter, the shortcomings of the self,
وتهذيبها وحملها عَلى الاستقامة
disciplining it, and urging it to be steadfast.
قال الله تعالىٰ: {إِنَّمَآ أَعِظُكُم بِوَٰحِدَةٍۖ أَن تَقُومُواْ لِلَّهِ مَثۡنَىٰ وَفُرَٰدَىٰ ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُواْۚ} [سبأ: 46] ، وقال تعالىٰ: {إِنَّ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ * ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمٗا وَقُعُودٗا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلٗا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ} الآيات [آل عمران: 190ــ 191] ، وقال تعالىٰ: {أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِبِلِ كَيۡفَ خُلِقَتۡ * وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيۡفَ رُفِعَتۡ * وَإِلَى ٱلۡجِبَالِ كَيۡفَ نُصِبَتۡ * وَإِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَيۡفَ سُطِحَتۡ * فَذَكِّرۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٞ} [الغاشية: 17ــ 21] ، وقال تعالىٰ: {أَفَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ} [محمد: 10] ، والآيات في الباب كثيرة.
Allah Almighty says: {Say [O Prophet], “I only advise you to do one thing: stand up for Allah, in pairs and individually, then reflect} [Saba’: 46] Allah Almighty also says: {Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for people of understanding, those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect upon the creation of the heavens and earth [saying], “Our Lord, you have not created all this in vain. Glory be to You. Protect us from the punishment of the Fire.} [Āl ‘Imrān: 190-191] Allah Almighty also says: {Do they not reflect on camels, how they are created; and the sky, how it is raised high; and the mountains, how they are firmly set up; and the earth, how it is spread out? So remind [O Prophet]; your duty is only to remind} [Al-Ghāshiyah: 17-21] Allah Almighty also says: {Have they not traveled through the land to observe} [Muhammad: 10] The verses in this regard are many.
ومن الأحاديث الحديث السابق: «الكيِّس مَن دانَ نفسه».
One of the Hadīths in this regard is the previously mentioned Hadīth: “A wise person is the one who calls himself to account...”
التفكّر: هُوَ أن يُعمل الإنسان عقله في الأمر حَتَّىٰ يصل إلىٰ نتيجة، فالتفكر يثمر التذكر والخشية.
Reflecting: means that a person uses his mind to examine a matter until he reaches a conclusion. Reflection yields remembrance (of Allah) and inspires awe of Him.
1) الحث عَلىٰ التفكر في الأعمال والطاعات التي يقوم بها العبد، ليعلم مدىٰ انتفاعه بها، ومدىٰ تحصيله لثوابها وقبولها عند الله _عز وجل_.
1) They urge the individual to reflect on his deeds to realize the extent of his benefiting of them and how much of the reward and pleasure of Allah he is obtaining.
2) الترغيب في التفكر في عظيم مخلوقات الله _عز وجل_؛ لأنه يورث الخشية لله تعالىٰ، ويورث ذكر الله _عز وجل_ وزيادة اليقين بوعده ووعيده، ويورث العمل مع إخلاص النية لله وحده.
2) They encourage contemplation on Allah’s great creation because it inspires humility before Allah Almighty, cause one to remember Allah, Glorified and Exalted, boosts one’s certainty in Allah’s promise of reward and punishment, and provoke one to do good deeds infused with a sincere intention to Allah alone.
3) التأمل من صفات عباد الله المخلصين، الذاكرين لَهُ، المتفكِّرين في مخلوقاته.
3) Reflection is one of the traits of sincere believers who remember Allah abundantly and contemplate His creation.
4) الحثُّ علىٰ الاهتمام بالأعمال النافعة في الدنيا والآخرة، وذمُّ الهوىٰ، وشهواتِ النفس المحرَّمة، وشغلِها بالأماني دون العمل.
4) They encourage the individual to pay attention to the beneficial deeds in this world and the Hereafter, besides disparaging ill desires, prohibited lusts, and wishful thinking that is void of action.
وما أكثر الذين يُتبعون أنفسهم هواها، ولا يبالون بمخالفة شرع الله تعالىٰ من أجل مصالحهم الدنيوية! فالحذرَ الحذرَ أن نكون منهم.
How plentiful are those who let their desires govern their life while violating the Sharia of Allah Almighty for no reason but their worldly interests. So beware of being one of them!